Our last day at C & O Canal

July 31 – Our last day at the C & O Canal National Historic Park.  It’s been a wonderful place to volunteer.  Other than a few hot and humid days, the weather has been great and you could not ask for a better location for sight seeing and for the volunteer duties.  We could see coming back here.

 

I took Bill to Ferry Hill and he took his bike so he could ride home unless it was raining.  I went in to tell Suzanna goodbye and Steve and Joni were there so I ended up visiting with them all for over 30 minutes.  Steve brought in a bag of home grown tomatoes and I brought 3 nice ones home.

I headed to the laundry and have never seen it so busy.  I actually had to wait for a washer unless I wanted to use the huge ones.  I could tell 2 of the couples were travelling, one was a student and one was doing the wash for a large family.  As soon as I claimed my washers more people were pouring in.  I didn’t want to tie up the dryer once I got that far so I didn’t go do my shopping at the grocery  until I was done, so I was much later getting home than I expected.  I only partial dried the clothes so put them in my dryer in smaller batches for 30 minutes each, but you can’t run the vacuum while the dryer is going.  They’re on the same circuit. 

I did get the vacuuming done before Bill got home but still had clothes drying.  I had a big salad for lunch and then started on putting things away and sorted through more brochures for the replacements.  After Bill had a rest he washed the truck and took down the rest of our lights outside.  While he washed the truck I used a rake to pull down some green apples from an ancient tree that was really tall.  I got 6 and fried them for dinner.  Haven’t had fried apples in a very long time.  I wanted to get enough for 2 meals but that was not going to happen.  I couldn’t get close enough for all the raspberry bushes and got stuck by the thorns more than once.

After dinner I greased the hitch and helped Bill put some things away in the truck bed.  He backed it up so I don’t have to turn it around in the morning.  We gathered up the trash bags, garbage bags and toilet paper to turn over to the new hosts and Bill put all the tools in the wheelbarrow.  We showered early so he could drain all the tanks tonight to make it quicker to leave tomorrow. 

The new hosts were expected tonight/today but they had not arrived by 8.  Hope nothing happened to them.  This is not a place to try and park an RV in when it’s dark.

We watched some TV and read to relax for the drive tomorrow.

Day out with Suzanna

July 30 – We picked Suzanna up this morning at 10 planning to go pick some wild raspberries while it was still cool out, but there were none to be found.  At least we enjoyed them for a while and have some frozen for later.  I wanted to go back to Antietam and she had never been so we went here and re-visited some of the displays, watched the video and then drove the auto tour.  I think it was less crowded than our last visit so it was nice.

Susanna as Lincoln

At the end of the tour we stopped at the bakery as Bill and Suzanna wanted chocolate milk.  We got that and a couple of goodies for later.  Then we went to the Antietam National Cemetery, which we had not been to.  It appeared to be in really nice condition.  We didn’t stay long but looked a bit through the huge catalog they have listing all the names and locations within the cemetery.

We retreated to Captain Bender’s Tavern for lunch.  Bill heard the burgers were good so that’s what he had.  Suzanna and I both had the soup of the day, Maryland Crab, and a small salad.  The soup was excellent and I could have eaten more.  The salad was nothing special but very fresh and crispy. 

Bill at The Big Spring

Across the street is the alley to The Big Spring, which was the natural water source which was the reason the town was founded where it was.  Indians used to stop there and eventually it developed into a town.  We trespassed to get to it since the alley was blocked but no harm, no foul.

On the walk back we made our final stop at Nutter’s for ice cream.  They have this awesome Java Chunk.  I only had the kiddie serving and that is plenty.  Bill got a small and it’s two huge scoops.  We sat outside and just enjoyed our dessert and a beautiful day.  While we finished and went to get the truck Suzanna walked over to the bank to use the ATM, then we took her back to her place at Ferry Hill.  We have enjoyed getting to know her and spend some time with her.  She’s very mature for only 19.

One of the old homes in
Sharpsburg

After a short rest we went out to do more prepping to leave on Thursday.  I checked the roof for debris and spent some time reworking the plastic cover over the screws that keeps them dry and rust free.  The wind causes it to move and bunch up.  We put the ladder on and Bill put most of the yard things away.  We sorted a stack of pamphlets and brochures, some we put in the bag for the new hosts and some are for Virginia.  I put some things away and got the laundry sorted for tomorrow.

We had leftovers for dinner and then walked the sites but there wasn’t much going on.  Only 2 sites set up for the night but there were picnics going on at 2 other sites.  Jared called to tell us how Shiloh liked her birthday gifts and about school starting in a couple of weeks. 

I worked on the blog and my photos and we watched out shows.  Tomorrow is Bill’s last day.  It’s kinda sad.

Trip to Winchester, Virginia

July 29 – We managed to leave about 10 for Winchester, VA.  We knew the places we planned to visit were not long visits and we had until 6 to meet our friend Becky for dinner.

 

Winchester Apple

As we arrived in town the first site was a huge apple painted patriotically.  I made Bill turn around so I could go back for a photo.  Later we saw 2 more that were just red.  This area is major apple raising country.  They boast the largest apple storage facility in the country.  Too bad they are not ready yet.

Our first official stop was the Stonewall Jackson Headquarters house.  It was furnished with several of the pieces he travelled with along with period furniture and original to the house pieces.  The second owner of the house was Mary Tyler Moore’s great-grandfather.  She ordered and paid to have wall paper reproduced for the room Stonewall actually used for his office.  Her grandfather was Col. Lewis Tilman Moore.  A lady in period dress led our tour and explained about the furnishings as well as who came and went from the house and some of the neighbors.

Bill and young George

Further down the street was the George Washington Office Museum.  George used a little log structure, now the middle room of the building, as a military office from September 1755 to December 1756 while Fort Loudon was being constructed at the north end of town.  The family that owned it lived in the house for 100 years.  They added 2 rooms on the ground level and a loft.

We stopped at the local Visitor Center to use the facilities and pick

Meet Woodie

up Virginia brochures for our next month in VA.  They had a nice exhibit on Patsy Cline who was from Winchester.  We brought a picnic lunch and ate across the street behind the Abrahm’s Delight home.  We sat under the trees on a small bench along a little pond.  We got some closer shots of a woodchuck.

After lunch we visited Abrahm’s Delight, which is the oldest house in Winchester.  It was part of a land grant of over 500 acres.  The Hollingsworth family built the house in 1754 and it was the first Quaker meeting house in the area.  Although there has been an addition, the 22 inch thick stone walls are just as they were as is the cellar or basement where the kitchen was located.  There are many unique antique tools and household implements on exhibit.  After the Civil War many acres had to be sold off to survive.

Virginia monument
and headstones

The famous cemetery is Mt. Hebron which has a Confederate Cemetery and a National Cemetery.  We visited the tomb of Daniel Morgan, a famous Revolutionary War soldier.  It was sad the condition of many of the headstone of the Confederates.  They were arranged by state with a large memorial in front of each section but so many of the stones were leaning and just looked rather disgraceful.  Bill said he’s going to write a letter.

As we left Winchester we stopped in front of Patsy Cline’s childhood home but didn’t go in.  It’s a tiny little house.

We have been to Middletown before and visited the Route 11 potato chip factory there.  We were disappointed to learn it has been moved to Mt Jackson, a few miles down the road.  So we headed to Cedar Creek National Park.  The volunteer there was just getting ready to close up but chatted with us a bit.  The Belle Grove Plantation that is part of the site had its last tour at 3:30, which we were too late for.  We bought the self guided tour book and set out to tour the battlefield with that.  Bill drove the first part then I drove the last.  It’s funny that they tell you landmarks like “yellow trailer” and “red brick house” to tell you when to pull over or where to stop.  I was more interested in the house but maybe another time.  After a while I get tired of battlefields and it’s just like hearing blah, blah, blah. 

Kelly and Becky

We had passed the Irish Isle restaurant where we were to meet Becky at 6.  We met her and her friend Maria 15 years ago on our cruise in Alaska and have kept in touch ever since.  Her mother used to winter at a condo in FL but she has since died and the condo was sold.  We arrived back at the restaurant early and got parked along the street and walked over and it was closed.  I called Becky right away and she told us another place the next exit up to meet her.  It was a Greek and Italian place, Roma’s, that was really good.  We had a great visit and it was great to see her again. 

We checked out a different route home that we wondered if it would be a shorter way to get from Sharpsburg to I-81 for our exit on Thursday.  The shortest way is not possible due to low bridges but this one was fine so will knock a few miles off the trip.

We stopped at Nutter’s for an ice cream, then home to watch some TV.

Shopping Day

July 28 -  After our regular Sunday breakfast  we loaded up the recyclables and the fan I bought and headed to Ferry Hill.  I dropped Bill off and I went to Hagerstown.  I didn’t have a lot to do but returned the fan that the switch didn’t work properly, stopped in K-Mart and Christmas Tree Shop.  I went to Martins grocery store looking for some specialty item groceries but surprisingly they didn’t have coffee syrups.  On the way home I stopped to fill the truck and turn in my $9.00 of lotto winnings.  My last stop was Food Lion to get a Sunday paper, eggs and drop off the recyclables.

 

I barely had time to get home and put my purchases away, make and eat my lunch and it was time to go pick Bill up.  He was helping set up for the author who was reviewing his book about the C & O Canal this afternoon.  He forgot to call and tell me he wanted to stay for it but since I was there he came home with me. 

While reading the paper and clipping coupons Lori and Steve, some of our other volunteers, came by with their beagle puppy.  She is a real cutie and looks a lot like Xena.  She was playing with Molly’s mouse and drinking her water and now Molly is hissing at Bill and won’t go near him.  Poor kitty!

Once they left we went and cleaned our sites.  So far only 1 camper for the night.  It wasn’t too bad but I found a pair of socks and 1 flip flop again.  Someone filled a huge black garbage bag and left it by the toilets for us to dispose of.  That’s not how it works, but it was better than us having to clean it all up.

I finally started dinner at 7.  We were both pretty hungry.  Have enough leftover chicken for Tuesday night since we are dining out tomorrow night.  I think Bill will want to dine out again on Wednesday night before we leave here.

After dinner we had a really hard rain.  The outside door was open and it was pouring in under the screen door.  Poor Bill had to venture out in the rain in my raincoat and close the door.  He went to bed to read and I worked on my blog for the night.

Dinner, Shopping and a Movie

July 27 -  Well, today was my last day at Ferry Hill.  Bill works tomorrow and he’s doing our last day on Wednesday.  I have certainly learned a lot about life on the canal, the people of Ferry Hill as well as tidbits here and there from our visitors who are always willing to share stories and information.  I have really enjoyed working with Suzanna and I hope someday she will be back in the US and can visit us in Florida or wherever we are at the time.  It was really a slow day but I did do 2 tours.

 

A pair of woodchucks

Bill rode up with me and rode his bike back.  Then he gave both bikes a bath.  His was really dirty so I know it felt better after.  He did the dishes and odds and ends so when I got home we could leave for Martinsburg.  It was a bit sad that it would be our last trip there.  After a quick stop at Advance Auto Parts we went to the movie.  Today’s movie of choice was “RIPD”.  It was funny, touching and really different.  The worst part of the movie was I had difficulty understanding Jeff Bridges.  He certainly didn’t enunciate very well. 

Because we needed to stop at Wal-mart right beside there, we didn’t want to drive off someplace to eat and have to come back so we ate at Texas Steakhouse, which is pretty much the same as Texas Roadhouse and Logan’s Steakhouse.  We were seated promptly and our server was attentive.  So it was OK.  Then we divided the list for Wal-mart so make it quicker.  This would be our last Wal-mart stop until we reach Sherando and locate where the shopping is.  On the way out of town we made a quick stop at Aldi for our favorite 85% chocolate bars and I picked up our favorite peanuts in case we don’t have one anywhere near us.  We were home around 9 so not a late night out.  Read and watched some TV.

Crazy day at Ferry Hill

July 26 – We woke to another cool morning!  How long will it last?

 

Bill dropped me off at Ferry Hill a little early so I could help Suzanna and Melissa prepare for the DAR (Daughters of the American Revolution) group today.  All does not go according to plan.  There were several misunderstandings and miscommunications.  Melissa was not arriving until 10 to do a program.  The group was much larger than expected, there were 40 and being mostly elderly we had a shortage of chairs.  They expected a table set up which Suzanna managed to find one and get it up before I arrived.  Then it was just the 2 of us to meet and greet while they had coffee and donuts.  Needless to say we were running around like chickens with our heads cut off.  Try telling a bunch of elderly folks you have no restroom facilities inside and they have to walk out to the porta potties.  Did not go over well.  Melissa flew in with no time to spare to do her presentation and then let them all go on their own to explore the house.  The 3 of us mingled to answer questions and chat but there were not enough of us.  Then there were other regular visitors that I was to greet and brief on the house.  Geez!  Once they all left for their luncheon across the river we took a break and then did clean up.  Melissa left with the trash in her vehicle to take it back to Williamsport since we have no garbage service.  By then it was past lunchtime so I took the first one and Suzanna had hers.  I started putting together “trading” cards of the sites on the canal that we give to visitors that want them.  We gave all we had ready out today.  Suzanna was going to finish them after I left.

Bill got his hair cut, went by the bakery, the bank and to Antietam Battlefield to the gift shop, then out to lunch.  He picked me up and we just stayed home the rest of the day.  We cleaned our sites and had several phone calls about camp sites.  The most in one day since we’ve been here.   We fixed the sewer hose so that should take care of that for a while.

News of the day:  Kerry called and my chair and ottoman are finally back from the upholsterer.  She said they look really nice.  They couldn’t take my sofa because they are backlogged but should get it done before we get home.  Next I need to get new throws for it.  Can’t wait to see it!!!

Great day and better dinner out!

July 25 – I knew I felt a little chill during the night and when we got up it was 65 inside and 64 outside.  We had quite a cool down during the night.  Good thing I had my blanket handy all night.  It never got hot today and the AC didn’t come on until about 2:30 this afternoon. 

I rode with Bill and he dropped me at Lock 38.  I had a very brisk 3 mile ride home.  There was a guy getting ready to ride who kept wanting to race me to the campground.  I never accept a challenge I know I can’t win.  When I got to the RV I put the awning out and put Molly in her hut.  It was such a beautiful day!

Kelly reading outside the RV

I had to do a little repair on the sewer hose.  Got to use my heat gun to put it back together.  We’ll see how it works.  Then I read a lot outside.  I got a little chilled under the awning and had to make a cup of coffee.  Molly a great day.  I had a number of visitors.  One needed to know where there was an ATM to get money to pay for his camp site, one needed me to break a $20 to pay for his camp site, the sewer guys needed to use our water to fill their tank having something to do with emptying some of the pit toilets along the canal.  They were here twice.  So it was a busy day.

 

Dinner at Dan's



Bill thought he left his phone charger at Ferry Hill so we left early to pick Suzanna up to go to dinner so he could see if it was there.  It wasn’t.  We treated her to dinner at Dan’s Restaurant and Taphouse in Boonsboro.  The owner is the brother of author Nora Roberts.  She grew up in town and her dad owns the pizza place and someone in the family owns the bed and breakfast.  The meal was excellent.  Suzanna and I had salmon and Bill had a steak.  It was a nice leisurely meal and we talked a lot about England and the royal family.  We were way to full to stop for ice cream on the way home. 

Then we just watched TV and I looked at some info on our campground in VA.  Bill found his charger behind the coffee machine.

Back to Work

July 24 – Oh, I did not want to get up this morning.  Bill dropped me off at Ferry Hill while he headed to Martinsburg to get the oil changed in the truck for the next leg of our journey.  Then he did the laundry and picked up a few things at the grocery.  He picked me up at 2 and helped me close the VC.  Susanna left us a note this morning that she had to attend a training session and she didn’t know if anyone would be there to cover at 2, so to lock up if not.  I was there with Lori and Steve until they left at 1.  We had 11 visitors before they left and then I had none.  I got to read my book for an hour.

 

We read and relaxed until dinner time and I made small pizzas.  Then we went for a 2.5 mile bike ride south on the towpath where we have never been.  Once we got back to the campground we did trash pick up.  I filled a bag with glass bottles, 2 different flip flops and cans.  People can be such pigs.  I often wonder how their homes look.

A couple came to see if we could make change for them and they were from Savannah so we talked about Ft. Pulaski there.  They are on the way to Maine.  Very nice couple.

Time to watch our shows!

Almost a day of rest

July 23 – A lazy day! Just what we needed. Got up when we felt like it. I worked on my blog and finished my book. Started a new one. I made a blue, black and raspberry crisp and cleaned the grease from the hitch and later put the silicone back on it.

 

Bill drained the water out of the truck cover’s container and cleaned the sites and watched a movie on the computer and read. It really was a lazy day. After dinner we did got for a ride to see if we came across any berries. There weren’t many but we scrounged up about 2 cups.

A Day in DC

July 22 – It was a long day!  A great day, but long!  Bill set the alarm for 7 but we didn’t manage to roll out of bed until 7:30.  I made some venison sausage and we had leftover scones so that didn’t take too long.  We managed to be on the road at 8:35 for the ride into DC.  The plan was to park at one of the Metro park and ride stops and there were signs for them a distance out but then no more signs!

 

Our train

I was hastily trying to find directions on my phone and then he’d pass the exit for it, so finally we managed to get to the third stop from the end.  The next concern was parking.  The lot only had open spaces in what was reserved for our fine government employees but we saw that they were open to the public from after 10 am.  A kind gentleman offered to move his small car to a different space so we could have the one he was in which was more like 1 ½ spaces.  Perfect!  We bought a day pass each for the metro knowing we would be going all over in my quest to obtain National Park Passport stamps for my book.  I had done a bit of research that indicated there were two main locations for stamps for the sites that were just monuments or parks with no visitor center to stop in.

Washington Monument

I want one!

We started by going to the National Capital Parks – East office in Anacostia Park on the SE side of DC.  I had an address and that was it.  Well, disembarking the train was a bit shady, as the first person to greet us was asking for money.  Bill questioned what I had gotten him in to.  We were told to go back and exit at the opposite end of the station where the nicest Metro guy did his best to help us but he only knew the park police were just down the road at the edge of the park.  So I was in the process of calling the NPS office in the Central division to get the phone number for the East office when a ranger walked right up.  I was so happy to see him and he said the office was just down the street beside the police division.  Hooray!  We walked a short way and went through the gate and around to the front and just inside the door was the NPS Insignia on the wall.  Whew!  At least we were in the right place.  The young man at the desk was a summer helper and was not familiar with the stamps, so while we used the facilities he checked it out.  When we came out he had us put on visitor name tags and took us to the library with a tray of 18 stamps.  Wow, the motherlode!  Great way to start out day’s adventure!

From there we took the metro to the Smithsonian stop right on the Mall.  Our first view above ground was the Washington Monument, which just warms my heart!  It’s all covered with scaffolding and closed to the public currently to repair damage from an earthquake in August, 2011.  The current word is it will be completed in 2014.  I love Washington and that being one of the first things I got to see there as a child makes it really special.  Then we turned around and at the other end of the Mall is the Capitol.  This trip being only a day didn’t make it possible to visit all the places we would have liked but it was still a great feeling to be there.

We walked to the NPS ranger station at the Survey Lodge where we picked up brochures and 4 stamps and he directed us to the stone building in front of the Washington Monument to get more.  The day had started a bit overcast and really wasn’t bad out until now.  We were sucking in the AC in each building we entered.  It’s not the walking that gets to you, it’s the heat and humidity.  While I proceeded to getting my 24 stamps Bill did some souvenir shopping.  We prolonged leaving as long as we could but it was a small place and not room to just hang out in the AC.

Bill with the USS Philadelphia

We crossed over to the National Museum of American History.  In the basement of the museum is a rather large cafeteria so although it was expensive, it was convenient.  They have a pizza station, salad station, grill sandwiches, BBQ and numerous desserts.  The place was packed.  The food is pretty good at least.  It was disappointing that the west wing was closed for renovation so there was really only a scattering of items to see.  We did see the famous Ruby Slippers again and many memorabilia items and a great exhibit on the US wars beginning with the American Revolution.  I walked through the First Ladies exhibit to see the gowns and outfits.  Boy, some were so ugly!  I mean ugly for even that time period.  What were they thinking?  We visited the USS Philadelphia.  It was an American Revolution cannon ship built in 1776 that was sunk by a cannon ball in Lake Champlain in NY.  In 1935 the mast of the ship became visible and the ship was carefully brought up and was in remarkable condition due to the silt and freshwater of the lake.  The cannons were intact as well.  It stayed in NY on display until it was bequeathed to the Smithsonian in 1961.  They even had the video footage of the ship being brought up.  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Philadelphia_(1776)



Peterson House where
Lincoln died

Cooled down with full stomachs we took a walk of only a few blocks, but these are Washington blocks!  We went to Ford’s Theatre where I understood that I could get 3 stamps:  Ford’s Theatre, Peterson House and the African American Civil War Memorial.  Not!  I got the first 2, but they had no idea about the Civil War one.  I had the address of the memorial so we walked a few more blocks to the metro and went to the U Street/Civil War Memorial station.  When we surfaced, once again Bill thought I was trying to get us killed as it was NOT a good area.  The good thing was the memorial was just at the opening to the Metro.  The bad thing was it

African American
Civil War Monument

was fenced in for renovation but I still managed to get a photo.  Across the street we could see the gate for the museum where we figured the stamp was but it was closed.  The big brick building next to it in our minds, might be the way in.  Well, NOT!  Apparently we were on camera and as I tried to open the door a policeman in a bulletproof vest came to greet us and clarified that the gates next door were where we needed to go.  It was a jail!!!!!  Well, the posted hours said it was open but it wasn’t so we just got some photos and wasted no time getting back to the metro and on a train back.

We had a few more blocks to get back over to the Mall area where

T-Rex

we went to the National Museum of Natural History – my favorite.  I remember my first time in DC when I got to see the dinosaur bones and they seemed like stories tall then.  It takes me back to that first trip every time I go to see them.  Bill enjoyed it as well although the elephants and mammoths are his favorites.  It’s an amazing place that every child should get to see.  There just wasn’t enough time for all there was to see.  You can spend days in the various museums.  Lucky for us this was our 4^th time together in DC and I’d been many times before so I have been able to continue to see what’s new in town.

The Castle

We took a rest in the lobby and had some peanuts to provide the energy to make our way back out into the heat.  Most of the museums were open until 7:30 and we had hoped “The Castle” was too.  It was the first building of the museum and is now the headquarters for them all.  We crossed the Mall and I got some photos but it closed at 5:30.  We will start there the next time we come to town!  So it was time to make way to the metro and board for our park and ride.  We had to change stations once and it was so crowded at that time of day we were lucky to get seats but they weren’t together.  While on the ride I checked what recommended places there might be to eat near our truck.  There were 3 named in the AAA book and one was a BBQ place that was not a ½ mile away.  That got our votes.  It was a hole in the wall kind of place, Urban BBQ in Rockville, MD.  It was pretty busy for a Monday night.  You order at the front and they call your name when it’s ready.  I had a bbq chicken salad with crispy tortilla strips and it was so good with bbq sauce for the dressing.  Bill had brisket with cornbread and coleslaw that had corn in it.  He said it was different but it was all very good and the brisket was moist and tender.  We would go back!

Time to hit the road for home.  Luckily I remembered the route we took from I-270 to the park and ride and we managed to get back on 270 without a hitch.  Also by now the traffic had slowed down.  We get off at Middleton and took the hilly winding road home.  As we approached Boonsboro I asked if Bill would like an ice cream to top off our day and there was not a moment’s hesitation to turn into the lot.  We each had a kiddie cup, mine was coffee with mini chocolate chips and Bill went for the red velvet ice cream.  It was starting to drizzle when we arrived and really raining when we left.  It got worse the rest of the way with lots of lightning in the distance.  It was raining so hard we felt bad for our campers as we pulled in.  It looked like there were 4 sites taken.  It rained most of the night and at first our satellite was not doing so well, but once it slowed down some outside it came on we got to see the end of one show and all of the next.  You’d think we should have been ready for bed but just being in the cool air, resting in the recliner was the perfect end to a perfect day! 

 

 

 

 

 

Visit to Williamsport

July 21 – My shoulder and neck still ache from the decal removal.  Guess I should not have done the rest in one day.  Of course I mainly use my left hand so it affects my left shoulder which has not been right for several years now.  Bummer!  Anyway I drove Bill to Ferry Hill so I could run to the store for a paper and ham and then stop on the way back and pick a few berries.  Without recent rain the berries are drying up.  I did manage to get some blackberries as well as some raspberries but not as many as our last 2 outings.

After I took a break I went over to start cleaning sites.  I did 9 – 20.  Not all had been used and one was still occupied so I cleaned 3 grills, 3 fire pits and picked up trash here and there.  Stopped and talked to a lady that lives in “The Village”, which she said they call The Hamlet.  She was walking 2 small greyhounds.

Williamsport Visitor Center on the Cushwa Basin

Got my shower so my hair would dry before I left to pick up Bill.  Had a huge salad for lunch and then did a bit of email and computering until it was time to leave for Bill.  He took a shirt to change into so we could head straight to Williamsport which is another visitor center and stop on the C & O Canal.  We were scheduled to go on a ranger tour and boat ride on a section of the canal.  We were in time to check out their visitor center which is in and old warehouse dating back to the 1700’s.  It was in the same family until the

Captain Ben on our boat

1980’s.  It was primarily a coal warehouse and the coal was brought down on the canal from Cumberland, MD.  Ranger Melissa, who we had met at Ferry Hill, gave the tour but Ranger Ben was the boat captain.  They trade off.  We road a passenger boat to the lock and lockhouse and toured the house which is in the process of being renovated.  Luckily the youngest daughter of the last lockkeeper is 100 and lives in Williamsport and she has been able to give all the detail of what furniture and colors of paint were in the house so when the park has money to continue they can make it authentic.  When the canal shut down the lockkeeper paid $1 per year rent to stay in the house and maintain the lock while taking a job in town at the leather tanning factory.  The lock itself has one set of gates off as it’s being repaired also so they can eventually take the boat further down.

Geese dining on duck seed

There were lots of families out fishing in the canal and enjoying the cooler day.  There are lots of geese there also who eat the duck seed off the water.  It looks like algae growing but it’s not.  It is a tiny seed that floats on the water since the water does not flow.  It’s more like a pond at this point. 

So we had a nice stop there and I got 4 more stamps for my NPS book.  Luckily we had plenty of leftovers for dinner so there wasn’t a lot to cooking tonight.  I did dishes while Bill went and did the other 8 sites and we watched a bit of TV and planned our day in DC tomorrow.  Well, we made some plans but who knows how it will all work out!

Another Dinner and a Movie

July 20 – My turn to work today and said good bye to Susanna’s mother.  She was leaving for DC around noon to return her car and get checked in for her flight.  Susanna was very sad but at least her mom got to come for 2 weeks and they had a great time.  She only has about 6 more weeks until she go back to the UK.

Bill was ready to go when I got home but I had to change and then heard a camper calling from outside.  As usual Bill didn’t hear a thing.  He had lots of questions about handicap camping and then about volunteering so there was about 20 minutes gone. 

We ended up going to Hagerstown to catch the 4:00 “Red 2”.  No stopping on the way since we were late starting, but made it in fine time.  We loved the movie.  Of course we like all the actors and it’s always funny and amazing how they plot to get the job done!  After the movie we made on stop in the mall and then to dinner at Red Lobster.  I can honestly say it’s been years since we’ve eaten at one.  The one in Pine Hills fell from out restaurant dining way back so just never went.  By 7 pm every place was busy so it was convenient and we had gift cards.  There was a 20 – 25 minute wait but I asked to sit at the bar so we got right in.  I had tilapia and he had chicken, kinda our norm.  Each was a 4 course deal and we both loved the spicy tortilla soup.  Each meal came with a small dessert but we had the caramel cheesecake boxed and shared the brownie a-la-mode.  About 2 good bites each, which is all we needed.

Made a quick stop at Sam’s before it closed and had planned to run in K-mart for the fan I forgot yesterday but saw beside it “Ollie’s Discount” so went to browse.  Found the fan and a number of other things.  Bill found some books.  It’s like a Big Lots.  Didn’t get through all the aisles.  The weather was not looking good so we thought best to head for home.  Wish I had my camera as the sky from the west was gorgeous.  Deep pink threading in deep blue.  We never got rained on but passed thru areas where it had rained.  Even back at the RV was dry.

Later in the evening there were fireworks over in Shepherdstown.  Bill could see them from his chair.

Dinner and a Movie

July 19 - I drove Bill to Ferry Hill so I could sit outside and make some phone calls.  I had to leave a message for the service department at Camping World to call back.  I also called our friend Becky that we met on our Alaska cruise years ago and set up dinner when we go to Winchester, VA for the day.

Since Camping World would need to call on the house phone I couldn’t really go outside as 

you can’t hear the phone over the AC.  I made Bill’s sun dried tomato crackers and was working on the checkbook when some prospective campers came over.  First it was the wife, then later the husband and they both asked the same questions and didn’t like the answers.  In the middle of it Camping World called my cell and he couldn’t hear me and I managed to tell him to call the other number I left, so he did.  I had to ask him to hold while I went back to the campers who kept asking stupid questions like:  can’t we use the site by you (which I told them was handicapped only) or can’t we drive out truck on the bike path just to unload?  So I gave them some brochures we had to keep them busy while I completed my call.  Our fridge isn’t cooling very well but Camping World said it’s due to the severe heat we are having.  He did mention types of fans we would get to cool the coils would help.  Then the campers said they were going to check out someplace else but maybe would be back.  I hope not!

No decal under the windows!!!

Finally I got started and finished the decal removal.  The stripe was getting to its smaller end so I did it in 3 sections and in between finished balancing the bank statement taking my heat breaks.  That’s one more things off the list to complete before we leave here.

Once Bill got home I showered and he changed and we went to Martinsburg to get some shopping done and maybe see a movie and then go to dinner.  It was a matter of timing.  We got much needed ink at Staples and then to Wal-mart, where I had intended to look for a small fan to try outside of the fridge and we had about 20 minutes until the 4:50 showing of “Grown Ups 2”.  Even Bill agreed it was a stupid story but it did have some really funny parts.  We like Adam Sandler and Bill’s hero, Dan Patrick, was in it.  Now tomorrow night we’ll see something better.  I spotted the Asian Garden restaurant in the lot of the plaza so I suggested it since we haven’t eaten Chinese since we left.  I was very excited to see it was a sushi and Asian place.  Very nice inside.  I had a seaweed salad, Volcano roll and a Salmon and cucumber roll.  It was so yummy!  Bill had chicken egg foo young and we both agreed the food was excellent but Bill’s meal took forever to be served.  My salad was served and eaten, then my rolls were served and eaten and finally his meal came.  He never eats all 3 pieces so I asked for extra gravy and he has one piece with some rice and lots of gravy for his lunch tomorrow. 

The ride home was uneventful and it was a little early yet to see any deer, so we didn’t see any deer.  After putting our purchases away, Bill did the dishes I never got to today and I  posted 2 blogs and did some planning our October trip.